Albert g



(No Model.)

A. G. CUMMINGS.

DEFLECTICN STAND FOR SWITCH AND SIGNAL CONNECTIONS. No. 271,608. Patented Feb. 6,1883.

witnesse s:

N AMWWW 1 N, PEYERS. Phclwlilbognphnn Washington. no.

UNTTE STATES PATENT @FFICE.

ALBERT G. CUMMINGS, OF HARRISBURG, ASSIGNOR TO THE PENNSYLVANIA STEEL COMPANY, OF STEELTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEFLECTION-STAND FOR SWITCH AND SIGNAL CONNECTIONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 271,608, dated Februaryfi, 1883.

Application filed August 25, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT G. CUMMINGS, of Harrisburg, county-of Dauphin, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Deflection-Stands for Switch and Signal Connections; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this speci- IO fication, in which--like letters indicating like parts.

Figure 1 shows a plan of my improved deflection-stand. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line fg of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the stand with ends of connecting-bars broken away. Fi 4 is a modification of the device with rollers offset for straight connecting-bars. Fig. 5 shows a cross-section of conuecting'bar with its guiding-roll F.

My invention relates to a device for supporting and guiding the connection rods or tubes by which switches and signals are operated from a distance so as to allow free endwise motion. These connection-rods have frequent- 2 ly to be laid along curved tracks, and it is important to provide suitable means for supporting and guiding theiu'along curves without increasing the triction.

It is constructed as follows:

A A represent sections or ends of tubes such as are used for connecting switches and signals with the distant levers by which they are operated. The tubes A A are secured to the ends of the connecting-bars A and A by 5 any suitable means. The connecting-bars A and A in their end wise movement are carried on certain fixed rollers B B, &c., by which they are guided and secured in their respective positions. The connecting-bars A and A 40 are made with flanges a, a, a, and (1, within which the rollers B B, 850., bear on the central webs, a a, of the connecting-bars A and A", the flanges a, a, a, and a thus acting as guides to keep the connecting-bars A and A 5 in proper relation to the rollers B B, &c. The rollers B B, &c., revolve on pins 0, projecting from a suitable base-plate, D, which is of a suitable form to hold the pins 0, and also is adapted to be secured to any suitable foundation. For the purpose of staying the pins 0,

I use a spider or cap-piece, E.

In case a single line of connections or tube is to be carried and guided around a curve, I employ one connecting-bar, A, with two rollers only--viz., B and B. In case two lines of connections are to be carr ed and guided around a curve, I employ another connectingbar, A with rollers B, B, and B, to guide both lines, without allowing the connectingthe rollers B B being arranged at either side of a line passing through the centers of B and B, so as to bear on one side of the bar A and the roller 13' being arranged to bear on the other side of the connecting-bar A its center being on a line with the centers of B and B. In case there are more than two lines of connections to be guided and carried, then I add rollers on either side of connecting-bars, same as for second line, as above described.

As shown, the connecting-bars Aand A are curved, as I consider preferable; but they can be made straight. The curvature relieves the connecting-bar A from contact with the roller B, and thus will allow each connecting- 7 bar to move freely without affecting the other bar. If the connecting-bars A and A are made straight, then the centers of the roller B must be farther from the bar A than the centers of B and B, in order to relieve the bar A from contact with the roller B. If the connecting-bars A and A are made with sufficient stiffness, it will be practicable to dispense with one of the rollers B, in which case the bar A when moved in one direction, will bear against the other roller B, and when moved in the opposite direction will bear against the roller B, the same as in the moditic-ation shown in Fig. 4.

By the form in which the connecting-bars 0 A and A are made-via, with athin central web, a, with flanges (l, a a a, ot'sufficient thickness and width to give the requisite strength- I am able to keep the centers of the connecting-bars A and A and the centers of the tubes 5 A, 8m, at adistance apart which is not wider than the tubes orconnections are usuallyspaced when they are run in straight lines, and at the bars of either to afi'ect the rollers of the other, 60

same time I can employ rollers ot' a considerable diameter which will give an anti-frictional efiect much in excess of the small rollers I would have to use if I employed connectingbars of any solid sectional form and kept the centers of the bars and tubes within a distance apart that would not interfere with inclosing the deflection-stand in the boxing, or trunking used to protect the connections.

Figs. 4 and 5 show a modification of my improvement, in which I employ bars G G, made with one central flange on each side, the rollers F F, &c.. which work with them, being made with central grooves adapted to the central flange of the connecting-bar G, by which the connecting-bar G will be guided. In this modification the pins Care placed on difi'erentlines, (with relation to the connecting-bars G,) so that the roller F will bear only on the bar G and the roller F will bear only on the bar G. It is oln'ious my improvement can be easily adapted to difi'erentsectional forms of connecting-bars; and while I consider the form described in Figs. 1 and 2 much the most preferable, I do notlimit myself to any form of connecting-bar when used with guiding-rollers placed as described.

several groups of rollers, each group of which guides 21. bar, out of line with each other is important as enabling the connections to be The arrangement of the 3. Adetlection-stand with one or morelong'itudiually-moving connecting-bars guided by and carried on the periphery of rollers revolving on fixed pivots,and arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The arrangement of pins 0 in groups out of line with each other, stand I), and connecting-bars and rollers, whereby the rollers guiding each connecting-bar are left free from contact with other connecting-liars, substantialy as and for the purpose specified.

ALBERT G. CUMMINGS.

\Vitnesses:

M. L. METZGER, G130. W. PARSONS. 

